Abstract
Induced desquamation of urinary bladder epithelial cells, also called urothelial cells, is frequently used in studies of bladder epithelial regeneration and also in treating recurrent bacterial cystitis. Positively charged polymer chitosan is known to cause large-scale desquamation of terminally differentiated urothelial cells called umbrella cells. Aiming to compare the desquamation ability of another polycation poly-L-lysine, we studied the effect of this polymer on the functional and structural integrity of the urothelium in ex vivo and in vivo experiments. The urothelium was analyzed by measuring transepithelial electrical resistance, and the structural changes of its luminal surface were analyzed with scanning electron microscopy. The results revealed a selective and concentration-dependent desquamation effect of poly-L-lysine on superficial urothelial cells followed by quick regeneration of the urothelium, which functionally and structurally recovers in 2 to 3 h after poly-L-lysine–induced injury. Poly-L-lysine was thus proven to be a promising polymer to be used when desquamation of urothelial cells is required in basic and potentially clinical studies.
Highlights
The urinary bladder epithelium, called the urothelium, is considered to be one of the most impermeable epithelia in the body and it is a very effective blood–urine barrier [1,2]
Aiming to compare the desquamation ability of another polycation poly-L-lysine, we studied the effect of this polymer on the functional and structural integrity of the urothelium in ex vivo and in vivo experiments
In the urothelium exposed to 0.001% PLL with molecular weight 70–150 kDa, cell desquamation was found in only a few small areas of the urothelium, whereas the majority of urothelial surface was intact
Summary
The urinary bladder epithelium, called the urothelium, is considered to be one of the most impermeable epithelia in the body and it is a very effective blood–urine barrier [1,2]. The urothelium consists of three cell layers: superficial, intermediate, and basal cells. After an injury, undifferentiated basal and partially differentiated intermediate cells rapidly proliferate and differentiate into terminally differentiated superficial cells, called umbrella cells [3,4,5]. Many drug delivery systems with chitosan intended for intravesical application have been developed, aiming to increase the residence time of the drug in the bladder, ensure better delivery of the drug to the target cells, and avoid systemic side effects [8,9,10,11]
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